PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chris Leben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mohammed Tenaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mohammed Tenaka will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Leben
vs
Tenaka

184 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

225 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Chris Leben!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mohammed Tenaka!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Bruno Hogan and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leben misses with a few strikes there.
No luck for Tenaka with that takedown attempt.
Tenaka throws out a loose jab but Leben uses good head movement to avoid it.
Leben throws a nice looking combination but Tenaka bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Leben tries to bum rush Tenaka with a series of wild strikes but Tenaka uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Leben fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leben misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Leben fails to land with a series of punches.
Tenaka will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tenaka.
Leben will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tenaka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Leben tries to avoid it but Tenaka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Leben to the ground. Leben escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Chris Leben has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mohammed Tenaka.
Some wild striking there from Leben.
Chris Leben is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Leben throws a right and a left that both miss.
Leben throws a right hand that Tenaka ducks under and follows up with a left that Tenaka also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Tenaka fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Leben throws a nice looking combination but Tenaka bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Tenaka drives through with a takedown into guard.

Tenaka is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Tenaka makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Leben wants to stand but Tenaka is controlling the position.
Tenaka tries to free his leg and advance position but Leben is retaining full guard.
Leben is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leben wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Tenaka manages to pass to side control.
Tenaka prevents Leben from standing back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tenaka shoots for a takedown but Leben saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Leben moves out of range of the leg kick from Tenaka.
Leben misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Leben throws a right and a left that Tenaka avoids nicely.
Leben misses with a few strikes there.
Leben shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Tenaka slips a jab and a cross from Leben.
Leben misses with a few strikes there.
Tenaka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Leben as he jumps to the side.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tenaka shoots in looking for a takedown. Leben tries to sprawl out of it but Tenaka keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Leben manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mohammed Tenaka will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Leben misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tenaka throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Leben's waist but Leben gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tenaka off to one side.
Leben keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leben throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Leben stuffs the takedown attempt from Tenaka. Tenaka gets slowly back to his feet.
Tenaka shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Leben sprawls well. Leben wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tenaka gets slowly back to his feet.
Chris Leben has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mohammed Tenaka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tenaka closes the distance and clinches up with Leben, looking for a takedown. Tenaka pushes Leben against the cage but Leben circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tenaka tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Leben swivels and escapes.
Leben rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tenaka moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tenaka takes a swing at Leben's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Leben throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Leben looks to land a combination but Tenaka avoids it well.
Tenaka throws a leg kick but Leben sees it coming and moves out of range.
Leben throws out a leg kick but Tenaka moves out of range and Leben only half commits.
Leben will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Leben misses with a double jab.
Leben swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leben fails to land with a series of punches.
Leben rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tenaka moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
No luck for Tenaka with that takedown attempt.
Chris Leben seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leben will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Leben will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Tenaka misses with a kick to the body.
Leben throws a series of punches but Tenaka moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tenaka.
Tenaka looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Leben is fending him off so far but Tenaka persists. Nope, Leben circles away and we're back to standing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tenaka has a takedown stuffed.
Leben misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Leben dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Tenaka has a takedown stuffed.
Leben misses with a jab, cross combination.
Leben lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tenaka circles away quickly and effectively.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tenaka.
Leben throws a series of punches but Tenaka avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some wild striking there from Leben.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tenaka slips a jab and a cross from Leben.

Leben gets caught flat footed, as Tenaka shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Leben manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Leben looks for the body kick but Tenaka saw that one coming.
Tenaka shoots in but Leben avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Chris Leben has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mohammed Tenaka.
Leben misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leben throws out a loose jab but Tenaka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Leben scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Leben throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
No luck for Tenaka with that takedown attempt.
Tenaka avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leben leaves Tenaka with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Leben misses with a series of wild punches.
Leben tries to land a leg kick but Tenaka saw it coming and moves away.
Leben rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tenaka moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Leben tries to bum rush Tenaka with a series of wild strikes but Tenaka uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tenaka doesn't manage to clinch there - Leben circles away.
Tenaka avoids a punch combination nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Leben. Tenaka does a little dance to reset his feet.

Tenaka closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tenaka missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tenaka has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Leben manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Leben misses with the combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Chris Leben.
I think Leben has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Leben!